Brooklyn College Foundation Honors (and the Friars Club Roasts) Super-Agent Don Buchwald '59 at Annual Gala

On May 12, 2016, alumnus Don Buchwald '59 was honored at the Brooklyn College Foundation's annual fundraising gala, Best of Brooklyn, at New York’s iconic Rainbow Room. Buchwald, who heads Don Buchwald & Associates, has spent decades helping to guide the careers of many talented entertainers, while also being one of Brooklyn College's staunchest supporters.

“It's our job, those of us who have been lucky enough to have succeeded, to pass the torch along to the younger generation — to do what we can to help them succeed in the entertainment industry with a bit of wherewithal and some advice and direction, so they'll do well,” Buchwald told the sold-out crowd there to honor him. “And when they become rich and famous, it's their job to pass the torch along to the next generation.  We help one another to succeed, and that's the way we can truly show our right stripes — by helping the next generation of students.

“I admit, this is a strange M.O. for me,” Buchwald joked about the evening’s festivities, which raised money for student scholarships and internships. “I skim nothing off the top, and it bothers me a bit.”

Born and raised in Bensonhurst, Buchwald was the second in his family to attend Brooklyn College, after graduating from Lafayette High School. After a slight hiatus in his studies, courtesy of the U.S. Army, he returned and completed his degree in theater, taking some of the first television courses offered at the college. After a sojourn in California as an actor, he returned to New York and began his career.

“When I met him, he was already an agent — a travel agent,” Maggie Buchwald, his wife of more than 50 years, told the celebrity-studded crowd. “He was selling honeymoon packages to the Poconos. He wooed me with promises of heart-shaped bathtubs,” she recalled, before asking her husband, “Where is my heart-shaped bathtub?”

But soon Buchwald found his calling as a talent manager, working first with his Brooklyn College classmate Monty Silver '57. In 1977, Don Buchwald & Associates was born.

After Buchwald received the crystal Best of Brooklyn statuette etched with Coney Island's famed Parachute Jump, the second part of the night's program, a Friars Club roast, kicked off with a special message from radio legend Howard Stern, whom Buchwald has represented for more than 30 years. "It's not appropriate for me to be at a roast of Don Buchwald," Stern began by way of apology, "because I happen to think he's perfect — he's the man of my dreams.

“I know I could not and would not have a successful career without this incredible man, and I am certain that I would not have the strength or the will to keep going on many occasions if I did not have Don there with me — my agent, my protector, my gallant pal, Don Buchwald."

But it wasn't too long before Stern contributed a few jokes of his own. He noted that the well-dressed Buchwald's sartorial style was legendary and that it made a statement: "That statement being, 'I don't own a mirror.'" He also commented on Buchwald's dashing fedora hats, which make him look like "Indiana Jones in a nursing home." Stern's final words of advice to the assembled: "Don't be too hard on him tonight, because D.B. is the best friend you could ever have — he is truly one of the good guys."

The roast was led by actress Kathleen Turner, comedians Jim Florentine and Lisa Lampanelli, and Stern's long-running news anchor and co-host, Robin Quivers. Among the tamer offerings:

• “Don is widely heralded with making radio what it is today — dead.” — Kathleen Turner
• “The one film I got since I joined his agency was being on the camera in the elevator on the way up here.” — Jim Florentine
• “Don is so old that his first client wanted to fire him, but fire hadn’t been invented yet.” — Lisa Lampanelli
• “When Don called, I jumped at the chance to be here. I know, because it says so in my contract.” — Robin Quivers

Other highlights of the evening included entertainment by students from the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College, and music by Terry Waldo and his Gotham City Band. The gala was emceed by Saturday Night Live writer, screenwriter, and humorist Alan Zweibel, with help from auctioneer Erin Ward, from Star Benefit Auctions, who led an auction of unique items. Special video messages rounded out the event, with greetings from beloved character actor Michael Constantine, star of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (one of Buchwald's oldest client relationships), and Neel Seethi, age 12, star of Disney's The Jungle Book, his youngest client. Another long-time client, Star Trek's George Takei, also sent comical video greetings.

Perhaps the most touching video of the night was hosted by Brooklyn College Foundation trustee and CNN newscaster Don Lemon ’96, and featured many of the more than 100 students who have received support from the Buchwald Internship program at Brooklyn College.